Improvement in car-starters



D. A. DICKINSON. Oar Starter. No. 108,460. Patented Oct. 18, 1870.

NF'ETEFIS, FNOTO-LITHOGPAP waited san DAVID A.

DICKINSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Letters Patent No. 108,460, dated October 18, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-STARTERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame To all whom tt may concern Be it known that 1, DAVID A. DICKINSON,of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented acertain new and. useful Improvement in Starting Cars; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe COllStlllCc tion and operation of the same, reference being bad tothe accompanyingdrawing, which form part of this specification, and showmy invention attached to the bottom and running-gear of a street-car,

Figure 1 being a longitudinal section Figure 2, a side view of the ringand lover, and

Figure 3, a vertical section of such ring and lever.

In all of these views like letters are used to de signate like parts.

The object of this invention is to overcome the greatdifficulty so oftenexperienced in starting a loaded ear,'where, while the weight is nottoogreat for the horses when the car is in motion, it requires unusualefforts to set in motion.

I meet this diliiculty by applying the first power exerted by the horsesdirectly to the axles of the cars, by means of a ring and lever, as willhereinafter more fully appear.

The means used for carrying out my invention, and which are here shownapplied to a street-car, may be adapted to any car where the power forgiving motion is suitable.

A ring, (I, is placed around the axle b, there being sufficient'difierence between the diameter of the ring and axle as to allow someplay of the ring 'on the axle.

Where the car is designed to have the power reversed, as in astreet-car,there will be two such rings around each axle, with two sets of meansfor actuating them; but, wherethe power will always be applied to oneend of the car, one ring to each axle only will be required.

To each of the rings a a lever, 0, will be attached, either by theforked ends thereof embracing the ring,

as shown by fig. 3, orby the end of the lever being fitted in a slot inthe ring.

The lever is constructed with its short arm curved I eccentrically toits fulcrum.

A spring, (I, will be attached to the lever, as shown, on the axle b, orto the ring, as shown on axle b, whichspring will be so attached to thebottom or other part of the car that its contraction will tend torelease the lowerend of the lever from its pressure on the axle, andrestore the apparatus to the position required for starting the car.

Chains 0 will alsobe suitably connected to the le- .vers and todraft-bar fifor acting upon the levers, and producing pressure of theirlower ends on the axles. Supposing the single-tree to be affixed to theend of the draft'bar, f, the car being at rest, the forward movement ofthe horses, drawing out the bar f through'the chains and levers, willforce the lower end of the levers to press upon the axles, and thusdirectly produce rotation of the axle.

The axle, thus being put in motion, gives a forward movement to thecars, the pressure of the levers on the axles ceasing as soon as thismovement is established, the ring, being of greater diameter than theaxle, allowing of this action of the levers and axles.

. \Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

. The combination of thering (6 and lever 0, both constructed asdescribed, with the springs, cords or chains, and levers connectedtherewith, for operating the same upon the axle of the car, as hereinset forth.

This specification signed this-26th day of April,

DAVID A. DICKINSON.

Witnesses:

Tnos. T. EVERETT, EDM. F. Bnown.

